In 1989 I gave my first Commencement Speech at the University of Puget Sound. Even though I wasn’t asked to speak to graduates this year, I decided to not let that hold me back. Actually the speech below is much less for the graduates and really directed at the corporations that seem to value these …
Advocates for the poor are pushing against the same obstacles that 18th century opponents of slavery confronted: acceptance of an evil because of its familiarity. It’s hard to be outraged by a condition that’s been around for millenniums. Even the Great Emancipator despaired of ending poverty. Quoting Scripture, Abraham Lincoln said that the poor will …
Amid the horrific scenes of the BP oil spill, we should not neglect the fact that 11 workers died on the rig when it exploded April 20. Nor should we neglect the daily carnage that workers suffer on the job in America. It’s been a very bad couple of months for worker safety: Seven dead …
Imagine for a moment that you work in a department with three employees: one African-American, one Caucasian and one Latina. One day, someone new is hired. Imagine discovering that this new hire is to be paid much more than any of you; even more than the Latina, who has been employed there for 14 years. …
On 47th Anniversary, the Equal Pay Act Must Finally Live Up to its Name Read More »
William H.T. Bush – a WellPoint board member and President George H.W. Bush’s younger brother — collapsed at the annual shareholder meeting the other day, just as the health insurer’s CEO, Angela Braly, was trying to explain to angry shareholders why profits are up but the company’s reputation is in the tank. Thankfully, Bush improved …
Shareholders Move to Curb Extravagant Pay for WellPoint CEO Read More »
During the past several years, we have represented employees of several clothing retailers, including sales associates working for Polo Ralph Lauren, Gap and Banana Republic, and Chico’s in California-wide class action cases. All of these cases were prosecuted under California labor law. Our most recent employment class action against Polo Ralph Lauren challenged its failure …
Capturing Wages for Off-The-Clock Work in California Retail Stores Read More »
After fifteen years of writing Working Wounded/Workplace911, I’ve concluded that there are a lot of myths about work. I thought it would be fun to tackle some of the bigger ones in this week’s blog. Check out my list below and send me some of your favorites. It’s impossible to be overpaid when someone else …
South Africa is the center of world this week, kicking off the first-ever World Cup Games on the African continent. But as the cameras pan across green fields and lavish festivities, labor activists are keeping their eye on the ball. According to a report on soccer ball manufacturing from the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), …
South Africa’s World Cup Brims with Broken Promises Read More »
Department of Labor news releases rarely get the attention they so rightly deserve. But I’m a fan of giving credit where credit is due, so when Assistant Secretary Joseph Main issued this statement, I perked up. After an investigation by Federal officials, a mine operated by Massey (think Upper Big Branch explosion) was cited for …
Challenges within the primaries allow us to define what it means to be a real Democrat—to insist that the party truly puts the interests of working people first. That’s what makes elections like Tuesday’s run-off in Arkansas between Bill Halter and incumbent Senator Blanche Lincoln, the victor, so important. Labor and progressive movements got together …
Why Taking on Blanche Lincoln Was the Right Call Read More »
Madeline Messa is a 3L at Syracuse University College of Law. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism. With her legal research and writing for Workplace Fairness, she strives to equip people with the information they need to be their own best advocate.
